I can't even understand how my hometown is in this list!
http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/21/forbeslife-cx_singles07_all_slide.html?partner=yahoore
The Rankings
To determine the best city for singles, we ranked 40 of the largest continental U.S. urban areas in seven different categories: nightlife, culture, job growth, number of singles, cost of living alone, coolness and online dating. Each metro is assigned a ranking of one to 40 in each category, based on quantitative data. All categories are weighted equally, with the exception of the number of singles, which received a double-weighting. The ranks are then totaled to determine the final rankings.
Coolness: To determine coolness, market research company Harris Interactive conducted a poll of adults from across the U.S., each of whom was asked, "Among the following U.S. cities, which one do you think is the coolest?" Data was provided by Harris Interactive.
Cost Of Living Alone: Our proprietary Cost of Living Alone index is determined by the average cost of a metro area's apartment rent, a Pizza Hut pizza, a movie ticket and a six-pack of Heineken. Additionally, we factored in entry-level salary data. The majority of the raw data came from the Accra Cost of Living Index, provided by the Arlington, Va.-based Council for Community and Economic Research. Salary data was provided by the New York-based Mercer Human Resource Consulting.
Culture: Our cultural index is determined by the number of museums, pro sports teams, and live theater and concert venues per capita, as well as the university population, in each metro area. Data was provided by AOL CityGuide and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Job Growth: Job growth rankings are determined by the projected percentage of job growth over the next five years for each metro. Data was provided by Moody’s Economy.com and Washington, D.C.-based Woods & Poole Economics.
Online Dating: Online dating rates are determined by the number of active profiles in each city listed on dating site Yahoo! Personals. Data was provided by Yahoo! Personals.
Nightlife: Nightlife is based on the number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs per capita in each standard metropolitan area. Data provided by AOL CityGuide.
Singles: The number of singles is based on the percentage of a metro's population above the age of 15 that has never been married. Given the importance of this data, the singles category carries twice the weight of any other category. Data was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/21/forbeslife-cx_singles07_all_slide.html?partner=yahoore
The Rankings
- San Francisco-Oakland
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Washington
- San Diego
- Seattle
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- Philadelphia
- Boston
- Austin
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Houston
- Phoenix
- Denver-Aurora
- New Orleans
- Las Vegas
- Columbus
- Miami
- Detroit
- Orlando
- Memphis
- Milwaukee
- Sacramento
- Baltimore
- St. Louis
- San Antonio
- Portland
- Indianapolis
- Buffalo
- Tampa-St. Petersburg
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk
- Jacksonville
- Pittsburgh
- Salt Lake City
- Cleveland
- Kansas City
- Cincinnati
- Providence
To determine the best city for singles, we ranked 40 of the largest continental U.S. urban areas in seven different categories: nightlife, culture, job growth, number of singles, cost of living alone, coolness and online dating. Each metro is assigned a ranking of one to 40 in each category, based on quantitative data. All categories are weighted equally, with the exception of the number of singles, which received a double-weighting. The ranks are then totaled to determine the final rankings.
Coolness: To determine coolness, market research company Harris Interactive conducted a poll of adults from across the U.S., each of whom was asked, "Among the following U.S. cities, which one do you think is the coolest?" Data was provided by Harris Interactive.
Cost Of Living Alone: Our proprietary Cost of Living Alone index is determined by the average cost of a metro area's apartment rent, a Pizza Hut pizza, a movie ticket and a six-pack of Heineken. Additionally, we factored in entry-level salary data. The majority of the raw data came from the Accra Cost of Living Index, provided by the Arlington, Va.-based Council for Community and Economic Research. Salary data was provided by the New York-based Mercer Human Resource Consulting.
Culture: Our cultural index is determined by the number of museums, pro sports teams, and live theater and concert venues per capita, as well as the university population, in each metro area. Data was provided by AOL CityGuide and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Job Growth: Job growth rankings are determined by the projected percentage of job growth over the next five years for each metro. Data was provided by Moody’s Economy.com and Washington, D.C.-based Woods & Poole Economics.
Online Dating: Online dating rates are determined by the number of active profiles in each city listed on dating site Yahoo! Personals. Data was provided by Yahoo! Personals.
Nightlife: Nightlife is based on the number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs per capita in each standard metropolitan area. Data provided by AOL CityGuide.
Singles: The number of singles is based on the percentage of a metro's population above the age of 15 that has never been married. Given the importance of this data, the singles category carries twice the weight of any other category. Data was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
